What is DO-278?
RTCA DO-278 / EUROCAE ED-109 “Guidelines for Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM)
Systems Software Integrity Assurance”, is the ground based complement to the DO-178B airborne standard. RTCA DO-278 provides
guidelines for the assurance of software contained in non-airborne CNS/ATM systems. DO-178B/ED-12, Software Considerations in
Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification, defines a set of objectives that are recommended to establish assurance that airborne
software has been reviewed, and in some cases, modified for application to non-airborne CNS/ATM systems. DO-278 is intended as an
interpretive guide for the application of DO-178B guidance to non-airborne CNS/ATM systems. The two standards are thus interrelated.
DO-278 provides guidelines for the production of software for ground based avionics systems and equipment that performs its intended
function with a level of confidence in safety. The guidelines are in the form of:
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Objectives of software life cycle processes
Description of activities and design considerations for achieving these objectives
Description of the evidence that indicate that the objectives have been satisfied
The document discusses those aspects of certification that pertain to the production of software for ground based avionics systems and
used in CNS or ATM equipment.
DO-278 Assurance Levels
DO-278 / ED109 Assurance Levels
AL1
AL2
AL3
AL4
AL5
AL6
Corresponding DO-178B / ED-12 Safety Levels
Level A:
Catastrophic: prevents continued safe flight or landing, many fatal
injuries
Level B:
Hazardous/Severe: potential fatal injuries to a small number of
occupants
Level C:
Major: impairs crew efficiency, discomfort or possible injuries to
occupants
No equivalent
Level D:
Minor: reduced aircraft safety margins, but well within crew
capabilities
Level E:
No Effect: does not effect the safety of the aircraft at alll
DO-278 Documentation Requirements
DO-278 requires a thorough definition and documentation of the software development process. The base set of required documentation
and life cycle artifacts include:
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√ Plan for Software Aspects of Approval (PSAA)
√ Software Quality Assurance Plan
√ Software Configuration Management Plan
√ Configuration Control Procedures
√ Software Code Standard For Ada
√ Software Design Standard
√ Software Requirements Standard
√ Software Development Plan
√ Software Verification Plan
√ Source, Executable Object Code, SCI and SECI
√ Software Design Document
√ Software Requirements Document
√ Software Development Plan
√ Software Verification Plan
√ Traceability
√ Test Cases and Procedures
√ Verification Results
√ Quality Assurance Records
√ Configuration Management Records
√ Problem Reports
√ Software Accomplishments Summary